Mailbox and signal therefor



Oct 0- G. o. THAXTON 9,7

MAILBOX AND SIGNAL THEREFOR F1161 Oct. 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor45d Tkazivn M Oct. 29, 1940.

G. O. THAXTON NAILBOX AND SIGNAL THEREFOR Filed Oct. 3, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 2 A iiorneys Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE MAILBOX AND SIGNAL THEREFOR Application October 3, 1939, SerialNo. 297,750

1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in mailboxesand signal devices therefor.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a mailbox inwhich switch means is located in conjunction with a signal circuit tothe end that a signal will be rendered upon disposition of mail in themailbox.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothe reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the mailbox.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the box.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the rocker frame.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electric signal means.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that the numeral 5 generally refers to the mailbox whichconsists of the front wall 6, side walls '1, bottom wall 8, top wall 9and back wall [0, having the switch means accessible closure II in thelower portion thereof.

The top 9 has the mail slot 12 over which the hinged closure I 3 isdisposable to prevent water and insects from getting into the box.

It can be seen in Figure 1 that the front wall 6 is hingedly connectedas at [4 to one of the side walls 1 and keeper means l5 and a padlock 16are provided to prevent unauthorized access to the interior of the box.

A vertical inclined partition I! is provided in the box, and thispartition I! is provided with a pair of horizontally spaced openingsl8l8 in the lower portion thereof, through which are disposed theoff-set fulcrum portions 19 of the leg portions 20 of the rocker frame2|, which frame is of substantially U-shape. The upwardly offset bightportion 22 of this frame 2| is forwardly disposed with respect to thepartition I1 and between this upwardly off-set bight portion 22 and 5the off-set fulcrum portions i9 is disposed the plate 23 which catchesthe mail as it is dropped through the slot [2.

Obviously, the weight of a letter or other piece of mail on the plate 23will tilt up the rear ends 10 of the leg members 20, one against thecounterbalancing effect of the adjustable weight 24 thereon, and theother to engage the contact arm 25. This contact arm 25 is secured inplace by the binding post 26. 15

As shown in Figure 5, this arm 25 is of substantially inverted L-shape.

A suitable source of current 21 is employed and connected to one side ofan alarm 28. Between the alarm and the battery 27 is preferably a 20switch 29.

From the other side of the alarm 29 the conductor 30 extends to thecontact arm 25. It can be seen that the frame 2| is grounded (see Figure7). 25

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as 30 claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is- A mailboxsignal switch comprising a supporting wall, a U-shaped frame havingoffsets at the 35 intermediate portions of its leg portions, said wallhaving openings therein for receiving the offset portions of the framelegs, one extremity of the frame defining a contactor, acounter-balancing weight adjustably disposed on the other extremity 40of the frame, and a platform bridging the bight portion ends of the legportions of the frame to a point adjacent the corresponding side of thewall.

GEORGE O. THAXTON. 45

